Katie Ford

About

I spent nearly two decades as a writer and editorial director, but my volunteer work at a prison taught me the true power of storytelling. From 2009 to 2018, I volunteer-facilitated a program helping incarcerated women write the stories of what they believe put them on a path to prison. The experience awakened me to a cycle of trauma affecting generations of women. In 2016, I set aside my editorial career to raise funds and build community partnerships to launch the first healing trauma program at a women’s prison. In 2017, I became the executive director of Truth Be Told, the nonprofit under which I had been volunteering since 2009. While I was executive director, my years as a writer became my superpower. By elevating the organization's story and the voices of the women we served, Truth Be Told's monthly donor community increased sevenfold, its operating budget tripled, and the staff grew. The lives we touched during this time continues to make a positive ripple effect in the community.Now back in the editorial world at USA TODAY 10Best, I curate original, unbiased travel and lifestyle content that empowers readers to make informed decisions and live their best lives. As a content strategist and managing editor, I oversee the editorial vision and ensure a seamless production in a fast-paced environment. INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE publishing | communications | nonprofits | women’s health | healing arts | social justice & advocacy | travel & tourism | cultural institutions | education | trade associations | real estate | science & technology HARD SKILLS editorial planning | strategic storytelling | content management | hiring creative talent | remote team management | writing | editing | proofreading | newsletters | social media campaigns | AP style | public speaking | event planning | community partnerships | media relations | donor stewardship | budgeting & financial oversight | group facilitation & training I ALSO BRING TO THE TEAMDEIA principles | cultural competency | Greenleaf servant-leadership | growth mindset | meticulous eye for detail | deadline-driven performance | creativity | humor & optimism | self-care tools HONORSTarget Storyteller Award | Texas Conference for WomenChangemaker Award | Austin Young Chamber of CommerceGene Barnwell Waugh Mentor Award | Women Communicators of AustinSOFTWAREMac and PC fluent. Microsoft Office 365; Google Suite; Dropbox; Mailchimp; WordPress; Squarespace; Salesforce Marketing Cloud; Parse.ly; Social News Desk; True Anthem; Trello; Slack; Zoom; Skype; QuickBooks; Stripe; Give Lively